Weaving together various observations and musings -- usually pertaining to aspects of Hong Kong (life) but sometimes beyond.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Ocean Park (photo-essay)

Thirty years ago, my parents brought me on my visit to Hong Kong. Child that I was then, one of the places that I remember that they took me to was Ocean Park. Opened on 10 January 1977, this amusement park on Hong Kong Island (that sections of Moon Warriors was shot in!) is still going strong -- and, despite initial fears that it would be overshadowed by Hong Kong Disneyland, actually has been attracting more visitors annually than the American import.

And although I have to say that it's not been a top priority place for me to check out as an adult, this past weekend, a friend convinced me to go spend a day there with her. And sue me but I actually did end up having quite a bit of fun there (and not just with my camera either -- though, yes, I took enough photos to make me reckon that this recent visit merits a photo-essay to memorialize it)! :b

As its name suggests, Ocean Park is locatedclose to a major body of salt water(though,strictly speaking, it's a sea rather than ocean)

And it does have some showcasesfor marine life (like this bizarre looking creature!)among its attractions

These days, though, its most famous attractions are its four giant pandas -- but, alas, seriously weirdpanda-corn figures like the one in the photowere the closest I got to seeing any pandas on this visit!

Rollercoaster fan that I am though, a greater attractionfor me was The Dragon which, among other things,gets it riders going upside down not once but thrice! ;b

To calm down after that rollercoaster ride,my friend and I went on the sedate --even if colorful -- ferris wheel nearbySoon, though, it was time to go on The Mine Train:my single favorite Ocean Park attraction-- and yes, its close-to-the-ocean's-edge locationdefinitely added to this rollercoaster's thrillsquotient! :)One of my abiding childhood memories of Ocean Parkis of its cable cars -- and yes, they're still thereand really plentiful as well asdo offer a pretty scenic ride indeed! :)

11 comments:

Looks like you and your friend had a great day!!! Rollercoasters scare me s***less but the cable car ride looks like fun. Ferris wheels too-I'm a real chicken. I've seen it from a bus-is it as picturesque as it seemed to be?

Yes, think it's safe to state that both my friend and I enjoyed our (temporary?) regression to childhood this past weekend. As for Hello Kitty: I had a Hello Kitty handkerchief with me during the visit to Ocean Park -- does that count as her going on the rides with me for you? ;b